2012 OD Cuaco's best season so far

Senior Section Cricket Teams As usual four teams were entered into the Kent League structure, with the 1st and 2nd teams playing in the Kent League and the 3rd and 4th playing in Kent Regional League (West). Our Sunday league team switched to the Kent Sunday Development League while the Sunday 2nd XI had friendly fixtures throughout the season. This season has been very successful for the top teams, but a struggle for numbers in the 3rd and 4th XIs. In total the club has won three league titles and had another team promoted as runners-up so statistically it has been by far the most successful season in the club’s history. In fact, it has been more successful than any season in Old Dunstonian or Cuaco history as well. The 1st XI lost another couple of senior players during the close season but the remaining players have really stepped up to the plate and had a very good year. They led the Kent League Division Five for most of the season until the holiday/festival season when a significant part of the core of the team was absent. Those who did play saw the team through to second place and promotion. The 2nd XI has had a fantastic season and had secured the fourth division title with a week remaining in the season. Alex Lake proved to be an inspired choice for captain and his mainly young team was top of the league for most of the season, winning two thirds of their matches; a tremendous effort in a season when three matches were lost to the weather. The 3rd XI had more modest aims this season and successfully finished mid table in the Kent Regional League Metropolitan 1B division. As with the 2nd XI a healthy number of youngsters formed the backbone of the team along with a few old hands. This was our first full season of using the Warren Annexe ground for 3rd and 4th XIs. It was by no means the worst wicket we played on but it still needs work to bring it up to the standard we desire. The 4th XI had four different captains throughout the season and unfortunately had to concede fixtures at either end of the season due to lack of numbers. We need to identify why the numbers were so poor so that we can then propose actions to rectify the situation and this review will happen immediately after the season ends. The team was competitive in most of the matches that were played and are now in a division that meets the playing standard and travel requirements of a team with so many young players. The Sunday 1st XI switched to the Kent Sunday Development League Division Three with Tim Smedley remaining as captain. This league requires four players per team to be under 21 with an additional two to be under 18. In most matches our team had eight or nine players under 21. The league encourages the use of coloured kit, ours was a smart navy blue, and matches were played with bright orange balls and stumps. This all helped to generate an excellent team spirit and the boys won all five matches played (three were abandoned) to win the league at the first attempt. The Sunday 2nd XI, captained by Simon Hunter, played slightly fewer games this year but those that were played were very enjoyable. Sunday cricket seems to be changing to be more league based nowadays and we need to review our approach. We are keen to ensure that friendly cricket receives as much support as league cricket on Sundays but must take account of the fact that fewer teams want to play friendly cricket. We played a full five game cricket week and also fielded teams in other clubs’ cricket weeks. Unfortunately we were unable to tour this year but we hope to resurrect that for next season.General club matters Financially the club is still healthy which is mainly down to continuing financial support we receive and by the members own fund raising activities and our sponsors. As always, a major sponsorship deal would still benefit the club. Two social events were held starting with the annual pre-season dinner and presentation evening on the 24th February 2012. This was a very enjoyable evening with an enthusiastic attendance which included many guests from other clubs and as usual had some entertaining speeches from our guest speakers. We again closed the season with a ‘Quiz and Curry’ night and a good time was had by those present. Our Clubmark three-yearly re-accreditation went smoothly and we are still recognised as a Focus club for the community which gives us responsibilities and opportunities to for better partnerships with local schools. The first major partnership that we have made is with our most local schools, Langley Park Boys School. As part of their building development they have lost their playing field., We have been able to offer the school use of our square and are working with them to develop the square at the Metropolitan Police’s Warren Annexe ground next door to ODs. This partnership will benefit the school by both parties working together to establish a cricket square and the club hope to use that new square for 3rd and 4th XI games at some stage in the future.. Off the field we have installed a three lane training net facility and bought two lightweight sightscreens that can be placed on the net surface during matches. We have retained our Clubmark and Focus club statuses which were subject to a full review by the KCB this year. We have also built a more formal link with Langley Park Boys School and have started to establish links with two local junior schools. The nets were opened by the Lord Mayor of Bromley and ex-Kent and England player Min Patel on a very cold and wet day in April. The nets have had considerable use since then which has undoubtedly contributed to our success on the field. The colts committee has gone from strength to strength this year and has helped to forge much closer links between senior and junior sections of the club. The family fun day was particularly successful and we have managed to acquire more equipment through the Sainsbury’s Active Kids and the Tesco for Schools and Clubs voucher schemes.